Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Republicans’ 2012 nominee for president, cautioned his party Tuesday against provoking a government shutdown this fall.

Speaking at a fundraiser for the New Hampshire Republican Party in Wolfeboro, N.H., Romney said protest votes leading to a shutdown — as contemplated by several GOP lawmakers — are “inexcusable” at such a critical juncture.

“I badly want Obamacare to go away, and stripping it of funds has appeal,” Romney said according to his prepared remarks. “But we need to exercise great care about any talk of shutting down government. What would come next…what would come next when soldiers aren’t paid, when seniors fear for their Medicare and Social Security, and when the FBI is off duty? I’m afraid that in the final analysis, Obamacare would get its funding, our party would suffer in the next elections, and the people of the nation would not be happy. I think there are better ways to remove Obamacare. And we should work to replace it with healthcare reforms that actually lower costs and give patients—not government—control over their own healthcare.”

Romney, who has kept a low profile since he was defeated by President Barack Obama in November, told donors “it has been hard to watch or read the news. What we feared would happen, is happening.” He listed a slow economic recovery and troubles around the world as products of the Obama second term.

“Russia modernizes it nuclear arsenal, and basks in the huge lead it has in its total nuclear arsenal of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons,” Romney said, returning to a theme of his 2012 campaign. “And we, we shrink our nuclear force and cut back on our missile defenses.”

The former presidential candidate listed three main priorities for the country: addressing the national debt, making businesses more competitive and improving education.

Romney also offered advice to his party, which has been fractured since Election Day, saying “we have got to stay smart, very smart.”

“Our policies have to be the smartest, the best, the most promising,” he said. “We cannot change policy to follow popularity; in the end, right prevails. We can change policy if new information shows us that we were wrong—of course, that’s part of staying smart.”

In a nod to New Hampshire’s influential status in presidential primaries, Romney cautioned that while there will be many qualified GOP candidates in 2016, “there will only be one or perhaps two who actually could win the election in November.” He stopped short of saying who should follow in his footsteps as the next Republican nominee.

The GOP actions against Obamacare, immigration et. al. is a party self destructing. Why? Perhaps they can't imagine and fear governing a multi-racial, multi-cultural country filled with people that look and think differently than the current almost all white ultra right Christian party. It is beyond the republicans and Tea Party comprehension that such a society could exist. Why even try! A shutdown would prove these points and doom the GOP.

United States: Approximately 5,113 nuclear warheads [2], including tactical, strategic, and nondeployed weapons. According to the latest official New START declaration, the United States deploys 1,654 strategic nuclear warheads on 792 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and strategic bombers [1]. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that the United States' nondeployed strategic arsenal is approximately 2,800 warheads and the U.S. tactical nuclear arsenal numbers 500 warheads. Additional warheads are retired and await dismantlement.

" I think there are better ways to remove Obamacare. And we should work to replace it with healthcare reforms that actually lower costs and give patients—not government—control over their own healthcare.”

I'm still waiting for all these other magic ways to lower healthcare costs - you know keep all the good parts about Obamacare and none of the bad parts and then add that little extra 'unicorn' something. Kind of like Mitt Ryans budget ideas.